Has anyone attended Jim Linnell's classes at Tandy?

[DieselTech]

1 hour ago, SUP said:

@jrdunn I think the link did not get attached.

@DieselTech exactly! Those stones are so heavy! That list is cut and pasted from Tandy's email to me telling me what I need to take along. for the class. Puts me off completely.

I know Jim Linnell has his own site and classes I can buy for much less. And learn at home. Won't be the same but I won't need to carry along so much or buy so many instruments just to learn from him personally.

I suspect Tandy is not much pleased with him for some reason. Normally, in all Tandy's classes, they provide the tools. So this is surprising.

I have some stamps, not too may because I am not yet doing much tooling or stamping. But I do have loads of leather sides of all types and so many knives! Can never resist them although I have just 2 all time favorites. The rest look nice on my wall. Taken down periodically, cleaned, waxed and kept back... used rarely. LOL

We should have a thread of tools for leatherwork - tools actually, most frequently used and needed versus 'great brands' so newbies do not die of sticker shock like I did a year ago. 

Yeah I have spent a stupid amount of money this year on stamping tools. But for sheridan style carving, I think a person could get away with just 7-9 tools. 

This is my very 1st floral carving & I think I only used like 5 or 6 tools. Yes I got a long way to go, but I'm pretty proud of this being my 1st.

Edited February 24, 2024 by DieselTech
Forget my pic! Duh!

[jrdunn]

@SUP, You are sooo right!  I forgot the link.  Apologies.

 

[SUP]

@bruce johnson I will look into subscribing for ShopTalk. I would love to learn about what stamps are available and which would serve my purpose. Do you recall which issues have your articles?  Sticker shock is more because I dislike spending more than I need to. I have no issue with spending well for items  that I actually need and will use. And of course, tooling is finally a matter of tooler talent, something which I have to work on quite a bit yet. An artist can do great work with ordinary tools, a not-so-talented person cannot , even with the best or most expensive of tools. I would like to work to at least not be in the latter category, even if I do not get into the former one. And trade shows? Would love to go to them but in this atmosphere, I am a little reluctant to travel to unknown places in the mid-West. Safety is prime, especially in election year.

About the Jim Linnell classes at Tandy, they are during their open store hours on Friday, Saturday and Sunday and will be held in the same place where they have their regular classes, with their staff present. In fact, their staff expected to provide the tools until the manager 'enlightened' them. I can understand needing to take tools and stones to trade show classes. That is not a regular class venue held by the show organizers who also hold similar classes while providing all the tools. Anyway, I'll decide over the next few days. One of the classes does not have such a big list and I will probably attend at least that. It is being held locally and  how can I not grab the opportunity to learn from one of the best?

7 hours ago, DieselTech said:

Yeah I have spent a stupid amount of money this year on stamping tools. 

@DieselTech yes, that is what happens. Since for me leatherwork is a hobby, I am  reluctant to spend more than I need or to end up with boxes and boxes of tools that I will probably not much use.  Like my knife stock! I would like to try different things and then decide, which is what I was hoping for with these classes. Even if I decide to sell, I doubt it will be tooled items - more like well constructed items  like bags and footwear and sundry things. But I want to learn tooling as well. It is such a big part of leatherwork. And your first attempt is great; you are right to be proud of it. 

@jrdunn thank you for the link. I will watch it some time today.

[kgg]

16 hours ago, SUP said:

Tandy insists that I bring all the tools -   tooling stone, mallet swivel knife, strop, stylus, modelling spoon, hair blade, wing dividers, petal lifter, basic floral carving stamps in medium to small sizes, figure carving bevelers of medium to small sizes, and background matting stamps. I am surprised because they normally provide all that during their own classes, so Tandy has the stock to provide to attendees.. I don't have all that and hoped to learn how to use them and then buy what I needed. Will not attend that class now. 

I wouldn't mind doing a course but if I had to invest in that much equipment I would have to think long and hard. All the courses I have done in my previous life whether computer or engineering related all the materials were supplied as part of the course cost. My thought is that if they set up smaller classes and supplied everything at a little higher cost they would entice more people to attend hence more sales of their products.

kgg

 

[Sheilajeanne]

Even when I took classes at Tandy, you were only expected to have the basic tools that they sold in their beginner's kit. They even provided the sponges for moistening your project! (Buying one of their kits was a prerequisite for getting the free classes.) One of the projects, a maple leaf, required a petal lifter. Our instructor provided that tool, though he only had one of them, and he kept a careful eye on it to make sure it didn't disappear!

I guess theft is a big concern for Tandy, especially with the more expensive tools, but who's going to steal a granite slab or a poundo board?

[SUP]

Recently, when I attended all the beginner's classes in Tandy, they provided everything. They have all that is asked for except for some of the specialized stamps and I would have understood if they had said we need to bring some of those. But the number and sizes requirements, including the basic items,  is ridiculous. 

If theft were a concern in my local Tandy, they would not provide all of those for their regular classes. I have been provided most everything except for the specialized stamps in earlier classes - not kit associated either.

I suspect this is the tools list provided by Jim Linnell and the manager is just passing it on instead of checking that she has those and letting attendees know which Tandy will provide and which to take to the class with them. 

 

[DieselTech]

@SUP so you got a knife problem huh? Or knife fetish I should say. 

Me too! Love my knives, & just not leather knives. 

Lmao you can never have enough knives. 

[SUP]

@DieselTech just the leatherwork ones - round knives, head knives... These days I refuse to look anywhere where there are knives. Strong self control needed. LOL

The thing is, all I really use in my leatherwork is a box cutter from Stanley, their cheapest, fixed blade  older model and one of two round knives, a vintage W Rose west Phila when  I need a smaller round knife and a Henckel when I need a larger one. The rest look beautiful on my wall and keep me busy every few weeks cleaning and re-waxing them. LOL I use them periodically for the fun of it but can manage fine  with just the regular 3. In fact, I guess I could manage with just the box cutter too. But that is no fun and for me, leatherwork is mainly fun and relaxation. 

[Mablung]

Just now, SUP said:

@DieselTech just the leatherwork ones - round knives, head knives... These days I refuse to look anywhere where there are knives. Strong self control needed. LOL

The thing is, all I really use in my leatherwork is a box cutter from Stanley, their cheapest, fixed blade  older model and one of two round knives, a vintage W Rose west Phila when  I need a smaller round knife and a Henckel when I need a larger one. The rest look beautiful on my wall and keep me busy every few weeks cleaning and re-waxing them. LOL I use them periodically for the fun of it but can manage fine  with just the regular 3. In fact, I guess I could manage with just the box cutter too. But that is no fun and for me, leatherwork is mainly fun and relaxation. 

As the quip goes about men telling their wives how many guns they need: “Just one more.” Same applies to knives, lol. I have a whole variety of knives, leather and non-leather. One cannot have too many knives, even if only a few are carried regularly. 

[SUP]

LOL. It is 2024. In my case it is the wife collecting the knives.